Deadspin | Chiefs' Travis Kelce accepts blame for injury to teammate

Dec 15, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce (87) and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Tight end Travis Kelce said he accepts full responsibility for his role on the play in which teammate Xavier Worthy was injured during the Kansas City Chiefs’ season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo.

Speaking on the “New Heights” podcast that he co-hosts with his brother, Jason, Kelce said there’s “no excuse” for his placement on a crossing route in which Worthy sustained a right shoulder injury. The speedy Worthy did not return to the game for the Chiefs (0-1), who dropped a 27-21 decision to the Chargers on Friday.

“I ran into one of my guys and offed him out of the game. I literally took one of my players out.” Kelce said. “That’s one of the most frustrating parts, and it’s hard to get your juices back going knowing you just hurt a guy.”

Kelce, a four-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowl selection, broke down his expected role on the play.

“I’m supposed to be running my route at depth for Worthy, so it’s frustrating for me. I was trying to kind of set up my guy to be able to get in a position and it all just happened pretty quick. And I just got to be better man,” he said. “I’m 13 years in the league. There’s no excuse for me running into my own guys like that. Worthy has his guy beat and we’re out the gate, and that game starts completely different.”

Kelce, 35, admitted to struggling to clear his head during the first half.

“I owe my guy big time. X knows it,” said Kelce, who finished with two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown in Week 1.

“I felt like (expletive). I could barely even (expletive) play the rest of that first half but we geared it up once I found that he was in better spirits than I imagined at halftime.”

Worthy’s availability is in question for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX rematch against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) on Sunday.

“I’m not sure where he’s at health-wise, but I’m hoping that we get him back as fast as possible because he means so much to this team,” Kelce said. “I can see that guy and how hard he works, and I can see his game getting better and I know he’s going to take the league by storm when he gets back.”

Worthy enjoyed a fine rookie campaign last season when he scored nine touchdowns — six receiving, three rushing. He caught 59 passes for 638 yards.

The 22-year-old was expected to help soften the early-season loss of Rashee Rice, who is serving a six-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Rice was disciplined for his role in a multi-car, chain-reaction collision on a Dallas freeway in 2024 and subsequently leaving the scene.

–Field Level Media